Chain saw guard



Dec. 20, 1966 R. R. STROMBERG 3,292,671

CHAIN SAW GUARD Filed May 22, 1964 Ra y R. Sfromberg INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,292,671 CHAIN SAW GUARD Roy R. Stromberg, Ovando, Mont. 59854 Filed May 22, 1964, Ser. No. 369,485 7 Claims. (Cl. 143-32) This invention relates to a chain saw guard; that it, a manually attachable and detachable purely mechanical guard which is functionally designed and structurally adapted to protectively sheathe and shield the chain and cutting teeth when the saw is out of use, is being transported, or temporarily stored for one reason or another.

Anyone conversant with readily applicable and removable saw guards is aware that a number of such guards have been devised and offered for sale but One reason or another have not met with widespread adoption and use. It follows that it is an objective in the present endeavor to advance the art and, as a result, to provide a guard which can be quickly aligned, slipped into its intended usable position, and then securely but releasably held in place.

Sawyers who fell trees and lum-bermen who are constantly confronted with the daily recurring problem of handling and caring for saws, implements and tools do a commendable job. However, the fact remains that an unqualifiably acceptable chain saw guard is needed as a solution to this aspect of the overall problem. To the ends desired the present invention constitutes a contribution to this art which will doubtless appeal to manufacturers, and deserve their endorsement, will merit approval and recommendation by retailers, and will meet the known but unrealized needs of purchasers and users.

Briefly, the guard is characterized by a pair of duplicate elongated guard members. These members are rigid and channel-shaped in cross-section to provide a channel which opens through the opposite end portions-of the member. The open lengthwise sides of the two channelsface each other in spaced parallel relationship. By connecting corresponding or like ends of the two members together, preferably by yieldable means, the channels coact in providing a simple sheath which houses andprotectively shields the saw teeth while the user is carrying the saw. The yieldable interconnected ends of the two guard members permits the members to be spread apart or alternatively, drawn together in a manner which facilitates application and removal of the over all guard. The ends opposite to the mechanically connected ends are free and can be piloted into position over the saw teeth. In addition, adjustable spring biased means interconnects the median portions of the two members and serves to orient and clampingly retain the same in place on the chain saw.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective showing a chain saw guard constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and showing how, in full and phantom lines it is applied or attached to the conventionaltype chain saw;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view with parts in section and elevation and wherein all of the essential parts are adequately detailed to show how they are constructed and arranged for best possible results; and

FIGURE 3 is a section on the plane of the section line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the views of the drawing and particularly FIG. 1 it will be noted that the ready-to-use 3,Z9Z,6 7 l Patented Dec. 20, 1966 guard is of elongated U-shaped form. The normal or expected length and width thereof is dependent largely on the particular chain saw with which it is to be used. Many and varied styles and forms of chain saws are being marketed and used and are customarily identified by brand names or trade-marks. However, and despite noteworthy refinements and distinctions they are basically the same and, for the most part, the guard herein disclosed will lend itself to practical use on and in connection with popularly used chain saws. In carrying out the invention two elongated rigid substantially semi-circular tubes are provided and each constitutes and elongated rigid guard member. The upper one in the views of the drawing is denoted at 4 and the lower one at 6. These members are of the same length and same cross-section and the hollow portion provides an open-ended channel. Then, too, the lengthwise open sides of the respective channels are assembled so that they are lined up and face each other to facilitate application to and use on the teeth or links of the chain saw which is denoted gen erally at A. It will be further noted that the respective channels are covered with rubber or equivalent linings denoted by the numeral 8 whereby to effectually house or sheathe the chain saw teeth. Corresponding end portions 10 of the two members 4 and 6 are physically connected together by the means shown. This means is yieldable and adjustably mounted. To the ends desired the means comprises an arcuate or longitudinally bowed nosepiece including a spring steel strap 12 which is embedded in a rubber or an equivalent jacket or sleeve 14. The end portions project beyond the sleeve and overlap the end portions of the members 4 and 6 as better shown in FIG. 2. These projecting end portions 16 have selectively usable bolt holes 18 to accommodate the bolts and nuts denoted generally at 20 whereby to not only detachably join the ends 16 but to adjustably mount the same. This adjustment feature is deemed to be advisable in that the leaf spring 12 can thus be bowed more or less to accommodate the so-called nose of the chain saw. The idea is to provide not only the elongated yoke comprising the members 4 and 6 and connecting means 12 but to permit adaptable adjustment means and to allow 'the members 4 and 6 to be pressed together or spread apart as suggested in dotted lines in FIG. 2. It will be evident in this connection that when the members 4 and '6 are spread apart they are then in readiness to be slipped .into position lengthwise over the longitudinal runs of the saw chain. On the other hand, when the members are pulled or drawn together into substantial parallel relation as suggested in FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular said members are then'in position to embrace and provide .the desired protective result.

The means adjacent the other free end portions of the I guard membersz4 and 6 is preferably characterized by a coiled or an equivalent spring 22. The upper end of the coil spring is connected to a U-shaped member which constitutes a suitable saddle'24, said saddle being provided with a hole to accommodate a threaded stud 26 carried by the bight portion of the upper channel member 4 and held in place by a retainingnut 28. A similar member, which will be distinguishably referred to as a stirrup 30, is provided at the bottom and it seats and embraces the coacting portion of the channel member 6, the latter having a screw-threaded stud 32 extending therethrough to accommodate an assembling and retaining nut 34 whereby said stirrup is thus removably held in place. It will be noted that this stirrup is provided with an out standing ear 36 which has a hole to accommodate the shank of the screw-threaded hook 38 which is held in place by a thumb nut 40. This detachable adjustable means provides an appropriate connection between the coil spring 22 and stirrup 30. Thus the saddle and stirmp (alternatively simple U-shaped clips bolted in place) yieldingly interconnect the free end portions of the members 4 and 6 and tend to draw them into position for use in the manner shown in FIG. 2.

As will be evident from the description thus far the two rigid elongated cooperating channel members 4 and 6 constitute adaptable guards interconnected at one end by the adjustable and detachable jacketed connector for tthe ends 10. The other end portions are connected by the adjustable spring-loaded or spring-biasing means. In addition, there is a third means between which serves the purpose of spreading the guard members 4 and 6 apart and also releases the same and permits them to be pulled or drawn together by the spring means 22. This so-called third means is of toggle-like form and is denoted generally by the numeral 42 and comprises an upper toggle link 44 and a companion lower toggle link 46. The link 46 has its lower end apertured and bolted by way of a bolt and nut 48 and 50 to one side flange of the channel member 6. The upper end portion 52 of the upper link 44 has selectively usable bolt holes 54 for cooperation with the bolt 56 and its associated nut 58 whereby to thus detachably and adjustably mount this link 44 on the side flange of the channel member 4. The inward overlapping ends of the two links are also separably and detachably joined through the medium of a suitably attached finger knob 60. Obviously, by catching hold of the knob 60 the links can be swung and angled into overlapping past dead center lock relationship as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 2 or can be angled into the collapsed state shown in full lines where by to thus provide a simple mechanical manually actuatable stay between the-two guard members 4 and 6. It is desired that the lower link 46 to be provided with a limit stop or flange 62 which engages a cooperating marginal edge 64 of the upper link.

As before suggested the sawyer wants and needs a safety-type protective guard for his chain saw or saws while carrying and handling the same. On the other hand such a guard (and despite its safe-guarding function) would be declined for use by the average sawyer unless it is easy to attach and detach and can be handled safely andsatisfactorily in a time and labor-saving manner. The fact is that the guard must not only be a feasible device, it may be capable of being quickly handled even with gloved hands in cold weather. The prerequisites have been taken into account in perfecting the present invention and it is believed that the construction herein shown and described is possessed of the featured improvements which are thought to be necessary. It will be noted, too, that with this construction the connecting means 12 and the adjustable features 16, 18 and 20 fulfill the requirment that the connected end portions of the guards 4 and 6 be flexibly and adjustably connected and associated to accommodate saws of different dimensional widths. Not only this the adjustment means 12 is interrelated to the adjustable spring tensioning means 22 which can be also adjusted. As a matter of fact the toggle like linkage means between the members 4 and 6 is also adjustable whereby all three of these means contribute their proportionate share to the overall combination. Also in carrying out the invention it has been helpful to use a means at the lefthand ends- (left in the views of the drawing) such as at 12 and 14 which contributes no extra weight to the nose end of the guard. Extra weight might cause the saw to, tip forward, which would be objectionable.

Possessed of the aforementioned features and advantages it is submitted that the invention will well serve the purposes for which it is intended. Accordingly, a more extended description is believed to be unnecessary.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those.

skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and de-:

scribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of:

the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows: 1. A readily attachable and detachable guard for a chain saw comprising a pair of elongated members de fining generally parallel opposing channels and adapted to sheathe and protectively shield the saw teeth which are housed therein, yieldable mean joining and assembling like ends of said members in coplanar relationship,

the other ends of said members being free and adapted to be pivoted into position over said saw teeth, adjustable spring-biased means interconnecting median portions of said members and serving to orient and clampingly retain. the same in place on said chain saw, and third means connected to said elongated members remote from said like ends and operable to selectively spread the other ends of.

said members apart to assume saw-releasing relationship and to releasably retain said other ends in spread apart positions against the biasing force of said springbiased means.

2. A readily attachable and detachable guard for a chain saw comprising a pair of rigid elongated guard members channel-shaped in cross-section and having the open sides of the channels thereof facing each other in spaced parallel relationship and accordingly adapted to.

sheathe and protectively shield the saw teeth which are housed therein, yieldable means joining and assembling like ends of said guard members in coplanar relationship, the other ends of said members being free and adapted to be pivoted into position over said saw teeth, adjustable spring-biased means interconnecting median portions of said members and serving to orient and clampingly retain the same in place on said chain saw, third means situated between the first and second-named means and connected to the respective guard members and adapted to selectively spread the same apart to as corresponding end portions of said guard members, a

coil spring interposed between said guard members adjacent the opposite free end portions thereof, said coil spring having ends thereof detachably and adjustably connected to the respectively adjacent guard members, and a toggle-type stay embodying a pair of links having adjacent ends overlapped and provided with a fingergripping knob and having opposite outer ends detachably Iand adjustably connected with their respective guard memers.

5. A readily attachable and detachable guard for a chain saw comprising a pair of guard members, a togglelike stay comprising a first link detachably mounted on one guard member, a second link detachably and adjustably mounted on the other guard member, said links having adjacent ends detachably and adjustably overlapped and provided with a fingergripping knob, said links being further provided with coacting limit stop means whereby the links may be moved to locking relationship to provide a self-holding stay or collapsed to assume a partially folded position in relation to each other, a leaf spring connecting link ends of said guard members together, a coil spring, and means connecting end portions of said coil spring to cooperating portions of said guard members.

6. A readily attacha'ble and detachable guard for a chain saw, said guard comprising a pair of generally parallel elongated members defining opposing channels adapted to receive therein the opposite reaches of the chain of a chain saw, an elongated arcuate and resilient nosepiece adapted to abut and overlie the curved portion of said chain extending about the nose of said saw, means securing one pair of corresponding end portions of said elongated members to the opposite end portions of said nosepiece for longitudinal adjustment of said one pair of end portions relative to said opposite end portions, said one pair of end portions secured to said nosepiece being straight, whereby when the curvature and effective length of said nosepiece is adjusted so as to conform exactly with the radius and angular extent, respectively, of the rounded nose of an associated chain saw, said channels will be disposed tangent to the remote ends of said rounded nose and therefore conform to and seatingly receive the adjacent ends of said opposite reaches, and means connected between the other pair of end portions of said elongated members operative to pull said other pair of end portions toward each other.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,826,294 3/ 1958 Nicodemus 14332 FOREIGN PATENTS 776,867 11/1934 France.

24,097 7/ 1909 Great Britain.

DONALD R. SCI-IRAN Primary Examiner. 

1. A READILY ATTACHABLE AND DETACHABLE GUARD FOR A CHAIN SAW COMPRISING A PAIR OF ELONGATED MEMBERS DEFINING GENERALLY PARALLEL OPPOSING CHANNELS AND ADAPTED TO SHEATHE AND PROTECTIVELY SHIELD THE SAW TEETH WHICH ARE HOUSED THEREIN, YIELDABLE MEANS JOINING AND ASSEMBLING LIKE ENDS OF SAID MEMBERS IN COPLANAR RELATIONSHIP, THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID MEMBERS BEING FREE AND ADAPTED TO BE PIVOTED INTO POSITION OVER SAID SAW TEETH, ADJUSTABLE SPRING-BIASED MEANS INTERCONNECTING MEDIAN PORTIONS OF SAID MEMBERS AND SERVING TO ORIENT AND CLAMPINGLY RETAIN THE SAME IN PLACE ON SAID CHAIN SAW, AND THIRD MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID ELONGATED MEMBERS REMOTE FROM SAID LIKE ENDS AND OPERABLE TO SELECTIVELY SPREAD THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID MEMBERS APART TO ASSUME SAW-RELEASING RELATIONSHIP AND TO RELEASABLY RETAIN SAID OTHER ENDS IN SPREAD APART POSITIONS AGAINST THE BIASING FORCE OF SAID SPRING-BIASED MEANS. 